Tuesday, August 28, 2007

Arf!

This evening will be our last night of Dog Obedience Class at the Atlanta Humane Society.

The Atlanta Human Society has been making the news lately.

A week or two ago somebody stabbed a pit-bull with a dagger in the head. The pit-bull survived after an operation to remove the knife and the Atlanta Humane Society offered a $1000 Reward for information on whoever did it. I wonder if that is for “dead or alive”?

And of course, Atlanta being home of The Atlanta Falcons plenty of people are donating their Michael Vick’s souvenir jerseys to the Atlanta Humane Society, which the society said they are putting them in cages for the dogs, sort of like a little blanket. The society also said the dogs get attached to them and want to keep them when they are adopted, which the society obliges them.

Speaking of Michael Vick, some pet supplies stores now have Michael Vick chew toys. I am thinking of getting one – not for Willow but for me to put in my little office.

Yep, it is about to be all over with. There were six sweating and panting grueling (or drooling) weeks of instructions coming to an end.

The instructor told us she would like to see each dog perform each of the commands the dogs have been taught: Sit, Down, Wait, Stay, Heel, Come, and maybe a couple of more I don’t remember. She also said more or less, that if we show up with the dog, the dog will get a certificate.

Anna and I have been cramming with Willow for finals. Willow prefers to gnaw on a play-bone or nap instead of panting over it all. So, right now it is a mystery will Willow do her exam or wander off to sniff a butt. I keep remembering the bottom line: just show up.

The instructor also said if anybody has taught their dog a trick she would love to see that. The only trick I know Willow has done is snatch a squirrel’s tail off at high speed. I wonder if I can catch a squirrel and put it in a cage for this evening?

I can see Willow with a back robe on a little black square scabbard hat. Damn, now we have to teach her another trick! We will have to teach her to flip her tassel from one side to the next when she gets her certificate.

Shall we take Willow out to eat afterwards? Maybe to a steak house, we would have to eat on the patio of course. We could order two delicious medium rare steaks and tell the waitress to brings a few bones out too.

I think Willow understands "Mama's home!" - or she recognizes the auto engine pulling up.I think she understands "Lets go outside" and "You need outside to pee?"Which at times she plainly tells us, "I an't going out in that blankity blank weather - too hot!"She pretty much has "Lets go!" down pat.I take her to the post office with me a lot and crack the window and run in and get the mail, however, when I don't turn at the post office and keep on going she whimpers or whines... I am getting out of routine and is not quiet sure what is to come.

The Bank gives yummies. The pharmacy drive-thru doesn't but they are always amused to see him hanging over the driver to see if there is a treat. Cur is highly insulted when there's not a treat at the window.

Jean,We knew about drive thrus giving yummies - in a way.The day we got her, we were at the Atlanta Humane Society all day trying to pick out a dog and never got to eat lunch. After we got Willow we drove through a Chic Fil-a for sandwiches and we bought her a box of little mini chicken-whatever. Anna fed it to her one by one before we went into Petsmart to buy things we thought she would need.In Petsmart, somehow the leash came off - which I blame myself for not knowing how to put it on right - and she ran right up to the door, which was a sensor door and opened automatically for her and she ran out in the shopping center parking lot. We had to chase her and she didn't know us well then. Before it was over we had a whole posse' of Petsmart employees and people in the parking lot who just came passing through. One girl, a Petsmart employee drove up from her lunch break and saw everybody chasing Willow and figured out what was going on.... she happened to have a box of chicken nuggets, the same as Willow was eating less than 15 or 20 minutes ago. She got out of her car and Willow ran by her she held out the nugget box and Willow made a u-turn and we (the crowd) closed in and got her.Now, she knows us and if she finds herself in a parking lot, like yesterday for instance, all I have to do is open the door of my truck and she will hop right in.

Nope, this is a new one of my Yorkshire Terrorist. He's soon to be 12 going on 2. Still loves to romp and play like a pup. He's also a teaser and master manipulator. He understands English pretty well. Especially words like toy, treat, prize, present, and RIBS!